Cruise Style - Accessories for Cruisers

by | Tuesday, 05 Mar. 2013

Welcome to CruiseMates Style! Our new column spotlights what's hot this minute in fashion, beauty and travel for discriminating cruisers.

SMASHING MAKEUP

I'm married, but I'm having a fling with Smashbox. Smashbox is the
first makeup company I've discovered that it's possible to use all
their products and be satisfied. I used to buy one company's eye
shadow, another's foundation and a third's blush. But cruisers, I
found makeup bliss. I love the size of Smashbox products; they're
perfect for travel. I love the sturdiness; nothing fragile for that
bumpy road between home and sea. Quality and stay-on power are
superb. The latter is critical to all travelers, but particularly
cruisers, who need make-up that can handle the salty sea air.

Smashbox makes two foundations I like. Sheer Focus is a tinted
moisturizer, but it can be applied like foundation. It comes in a
tube, and is less than three-ounces so it fits in that one-quart
plastic bag for airline travel. It's UVA/UVB SPF 15 and provides just
enough coverage for airline flights and onboard days. If my face is
slightly red from too much deck time, I use Smashbox Halo, Hydrating
Perfecting Powder over Sheer Focus. It's loose powder (always the
best) that evens out your skin tone and  I swear - makes fine lines
disappear. Halo comes in a round compact style. Open the lid, give
the interior a twist and just enough powder releases to lightly cover
a brush. Never again worry about spills on a rocking ship or tour
bus.

For true foundation, try Smashbox High Definition, Healthy FX
Foundation. It's covers thoroughly and blends beautifully into the
skin. Smashbox also makes tinted powders that color-correct skin. I
often use Halo Yellow Color Correcting Hydrating Powder, which evens
out my skin tone. This small compact also has a twist function to
release the powder, too.

Metallic Cream Eye Liner Palette by Smashbox is another must-buy. The
teensy rectangular container holds 10 different shimmery colors.
Although they're eyeliners, and come with a tiny brush, they can
double as eye shadow. Colors, like emerald, blue topaz and bronze, are
saturated and sparkly - in tune with the latest bright-hues and
metallic trends. The Palette (with a built-in mirror) fits in evening
bags, for informal and formal night touch-ups.

Smashbox's web site is unusually informative. It offers extensive
instruction on how to apply make-up, and displays photos of various
looks, with demonstrations on how to recreate them. You can also
"live chat" with a makeup artist, at no cost. Shipping is free in the
U.S. (High Definition Healthy FX Foundation: $38. Halo Hydrating
Perfecting Powder: $59. smashbox.com)

BAG THIS

While I'm the first to fawn over buttery-soft leather bags from Italy,
I'm particularly thrilled when I can tout the virtues of an
American-made handbag. So I'm happy to praise Brahmin, a
family-owned handbag manufacturer headquartered in Massachusetts. All
bags are designed and made in the Bay State. Brahmin bags are a rare
breed that possesses no-nonsense sturdiness coupled with style.

When I pack for a cruise, I look at my handbag as my wardrobe anchor.
It must go with everything I wear. It has to be sturdy enough to
survive planes, taxis, hotels and restaurants - and still look great
when I'm welcomed onboard. White or light-hued handbags won't do, nor
will those delicate imported designer bags that can cost $2,000 or
more. Neither my nerves nor bank account can handle that.

So when I'm ready to set sail, I pull a Brahmin bag from the closet.
Brahmin makes an enticing variety of handbags, from classic to
trend-conscious. Lyle Crossbody Tote, featured in Vogue, is
particularly trendy for spring. Inspired by menswear, the hands-free
bag has a thick canvas-and-leather strap and pops in green, orange or
fuschia. A zip-top closure insures your items are secure when
traveling.

Are you needing a cool evening bag? Allie Rose Crossbody is the ideal
dressy night or dancing on-deck purse. It has a hanging rose
fashioned of leather and long chain link strap. It's just big enough
to hold lipstick, cabin keycard and other essentials.

But if I'm taking but one purse on a cruise, it's a Dagney bag. The
Dagney Tramer Hobo is my favorite. It's stylish and sophisticated
enough to tote when boarding a luxury ship with the Chanel and Gucci
crowd. It works day and night, and is great for pre-and-post-cruise
hotel stays. And it's practical. It has a zip top and lock detail.
(You don't want cruise tickets falling out dashing through airline
terminals.)

BEAUTY ICON

We know that cosmetics and hair care products can be absorbed into our
skin and that chemicals and other unnatural ingredients used to
stabilize these products may impact our long-term health. The list of
ingredients of concern includes parabens and sulfates.

But until recently, the quality of many of the organic products
weren't up to snuff. Today, the news is far better. As demand
increased, companies have risen to the occasion, creating product that
outperforms its chemical-laden competitors.

I.C.O.N. is one such company. Formed by two passionate
entrepreneurs, Jorge Rubin (based in Spain and running ICON Europe)
and Chiara (based in Los Angeles), I.C.O.N. makes sulfate and
paraben-free products that are like a spa for hair. They're divided
into four categories: Hydration, Detox, Anti-Aging and Indulgent.
Hydration is perfect for cruisers, whose locks are subject to assaults
by humidity, wind and sea air. Drench, the moisturizing shampoo,
contains silk and wheat proteins to moisturize, amino acids to nourish
and aloe to add shine. Free conditioner hydrates via shea butter and
protects hair with babassu seed oil (from palm seeds grown in the
Amazon). I do recommend using Inner-Home Moisture Mask, too. This
hair mask works from the inside out, replenishing and repairing hair
structure from inner to outer layers. Pack these three products, or
use Inner Home in-between cruises, so your hair recovers from "cruise
blues."

When packing space is tight, I travel with I.C.O.N.'s Indulgent
products, which do double duty for hair and body. One Soul is a hair
and body shampoo, with Vitamins A, C, E and Vitamin B Complex. It
lathers beautifully and pH balances both hair and body. Soul Mate,
hair and body conditioner, detangles hair and moisturizes and protects
skin with antioxidants. These two bottles do it all and are unisex.
Pretty nifty. (Drench; $16.50. Free; $21.50. Inner-Home Moisture
Mask; $23. iconproducts.com)

SLIM GYM

When I saw the Kefty Home Gym at a GBK Gifting Lounge before this
year's Oscars, I was beyond skeptical. This small handheld exerciser
could provide a workout similar to doing reps on gym equipment? It
looked like a late-night infomercial gadget that would fall apart in
days. I was wrong. Not only is it effective (and I regularly
workout at a gym as a comparison), it's also lightweight (4.4 pounds)
and portable. In fact, it was selected by the Mars Institute for
astronauts to use in space exploration rover simulations in the
Arctic.

I decided I'd pack a Kefty on my next cruise and skip the ship gym.
I took it apart in less than 60 seconds (it's a rubber-tensioned
tubing frame made of high-impact polymers) and rolled it inside my
yoga mat.

I like to work out onboard as I do at home  the same time as other
cruisers, before breakfast or dinner. I don't like waiting for
machines or working out in crowded gyms. Also, gyms are breeding
grounds for germs  and all cruisers are aware of fast-spreading
shipboard viruses.

Kefty works perfectly within the confines of a cabin. It's only
38-inches-long by 2-inches wide. It can perform more than 220 Pilates
exercises and more than 450 exercises and routine combinations for an
entire body workout. It can also be used by people in wheelchairs.
(In fact, the web site offers a video wheelchair workout.)

Kefty Home Gym is made in the USA for safety and quality control. It
comes with a video explaining its use and the web site offers
comprehensive information, too. ($129; kefty.com)

GAUGUIN GOODS

A favorite of honemooners, Paul Gauguin is renowned for its romantic
South Pacific cruises. And now this cruise line is making preparing
for a sailing easier: In partnership with New Headings LLC, it
launched Gauguin Apparel, an e-store.

Gauguin Apparel also offers water-sports apparel, such as wetsuits,
gloves and reef shoes. And necessities like sunglasses, binoculars,
sunscreen and insect repellant. Luggage, such as duffel bags and
backpacks, and camera cases and security products, are featured, too.

Many products are procured from top companies, such as Patagonia,
Eagle Creek and Tilley Endurables. I like Econscious All Organic
Baseball Hat  and get it embroidered with "TAHITI by Gauguin."
Adventurer Sun Shirt is another great choice and can also sport a
logo. It's UPF 25 rated (to protect against UV rays) and its long
sleeves can be converted to short sleeves by using the roll tabs. It
has secure chest pockets, and is crafted of lightweight, highly
breathable fabric. It dries quickly, so you can wash it one day and
wear it the next. (Baseball hat; $16.95. Adventure Sun Shirt;
$54.95. paulgauguin.newheadings.com)